LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Channel 13 is making sure locals have their voices heard when they bring us an issue they’re dealing with. Speech-language pathologist Emily Swogger was one such Las Vegan who came to our latest Let’s Talk community event last week.
On Monday, we went to her office, where between 80 and 85 pediatric clients get speech, occupational and physical therapy services.
Each week, Swogger explained, Medicaid reimbursement payments come in. Ninety percent of her clients’ services are covered in some way by the federal program. She said she relies on Medicaid “to keep the lights on, pay rent, pay the employees, and pay into their 401(K)s.”
Right now, she’s not sure when she’ll see her next check. Her application for re-validation for her Medicaid provider contract is still pending online, which means it’s not active.
WATCH | Emily Swogger shares her concerns with Channel 13 senior reporter Mary Kielar:
The backlog, Swogger believes, is being compounded by a temporary pause on all new provider Medicaid contracts nationwide. That’s part of an effort to combat fraud in the home health and hospice industry.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo backs that federal push here in Nevada. During the 2025 legislative session, the position of Medicaid Inspector General was created within the Nevada Health Authority.
On Tuesday, Channel 13 had the chance to ask Governor Lombardo directly about Swogger’s concerns.
In part, he said, “we can't confirm that; we're basically going off what she is saying. So, we would like to confirm that, and that's easy to reach out to health services via the state either online or in person or on the phone. We can help her through that process.”
Gov. Lombardo also said, “we will respond to it once we receive it,” when Channel 13 asked about a letter Swogger sent to his office this month.
WATCH | We showed Swogger the governor's response:
“I want to thank him for responding. It’s a little disheartening, because I have sent a formal letter requesting assistance on this. I have called his office multiple times," Swogger said. “It would’ve been nice to hear him seem a little bit more shocked and concerned and maybe less defensive."
She said she wants to sit down and have a conversation with Gov. Lombardo, to try and get a handle on the issue which she said doesn’t just impact her.
Swogger told us a Medicaid inspector came to her practice on Tuesday, requesting information on her business. It was a promising step, she said.
Let's Talk is your platform for share questions, concerns, and story ideas with the Channel 13 team. If you have an issue you'd like us to look into, let us know at ktnv.com/letstalk.
